Jones opts for the tried and tested

THE major talking points about the Australian team to face Ireland are the omission - from both team and subs bench - of Stirling Mortlock and Chris Latham, the man who ran in a world record five tries against Namibia last Saturday), and Alastair Baxter’s replacement at tight head prop by Ben Darwin.

However, all of this had been flagged well in advance and, indeed, the only change from the side that beat Argentina in the first round of pool matches is Darwin for Baxter. Mortlock and Latham must now be wondering if their World Cup, barring injuries, has already come to an end. Eddie Jones insisted this was not the case.

"Stirling had a fine match last week and we are extremely happy with his progress but at this stage we prefer Matt Burke at outside centre," the coach insisted.

"Stirling is still very much an option for following games. He knows he is very close to selection and we're not concerned about lack of match practice. We had a session yesterday that was probably harder than our last two games and he'll be well prepared for the quarter-finals.

"We came into the World Cup with two tight heads. Benny Darwin had a bit of a slow start because of a knee injury but he is now close to his best and will start, and Al Baxter will play a significant part as well.

"This was the toughest selection of my coaching career. We thought the side last week played very well. To score 142 points and allowing for the quality of the opposition in eighty minutes was a considerable performance and what impressed us most was the technical efficiency.

"If a team plays like that, individuals do well. So for each of the positions there were a couple of serious contenders and some of the splits were 51-49 for one player over the other. There was never much doubt that the vastly experienced, if rather unpredictable, Stephen Larkham would be the Wallabies number ten against Ireland but you believe Eddie Jones when he claims the up and coming Matt Giteau "is now yapping at his feet".

"What's good for Stephen is to have someone like his little mate Gitts putting on the pressure. He's 21 years of age, they're the best of mates Canberra boys. Gitts played absolutely superbly last Saturday so Stevie has got to be right up there at his best and that has to be good for him. I think it's the first time in his career that he has found himself in this situation."

Elsewhere, even though yesterday was a 'down day' for the Irish squad, it opened with a line-out session for the forwards conducted by Niall O'Donovan. It was held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, indoors of course, and so replicating to some extent the circumstances in which they will find themselves on Saturday evening.

This city is full of recreational and sporting facilities of the highest class, leaving many in the Irish party redfaced as they contemplate just how bereft we are in this respect back home.

After that, they were free to do as they wished and the more daring made their way to the Melbourne Aquarium where Frankie Sheahan, Marcus Horan, David Wallace and the Easterby brothers, were among those who donned all the necessary gear and swam around with the sharks!